Recipes to try during cancer treatment

High-calorie, high-protein shake and drink recipes

If you need more calories or have trouble swallowing, try the following recipes – but keep in mind that they might not be right for everyone. If you want to increase calories but not fat, use reduced-fat dairy products. If you’re eating well and maintaining your weight, there’s no reason to increase your calorie intake.

Follow these basic instructions for all the drink recipes below:

Place all ingredients in a blender container, or mix in a large container with a hand-held blender.

Cover and blend on high speed until smooth.

Chill before serving.

Store unused drinks in the refrigerator or freezer.

Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of powdered milk to each recipe to increase protein.

Note: If you can’t tolerate milk or milk products, or if you have diabetes, ask your nurse or dietitian for other recipe ideas.

Fortified milk

Drink or use in cooking to add protein

1 quart whole or low-fat milk
1 cup powdered non-fat dry milk

Blend and chill at least 6 hours. Can also be made with buttermilk or dry buttermilk.

Remove wings from chicken and reserve. Remove skin from breast and discard. Shred the meat from the breast and break off breast bones.

Heat oil in a stock pot over medium heat. Sauté the carrots, celery, onion, chicken wings, and breastbones for 8 to 10 minutes, or until vegetables soften.

Add water and chicken broth and bring to a boil, stirring to combine. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Add beans and chicken meat and cook for 5 minutes. If too thick, add more broth or water. Discard bones and wings before serving. Season with salt and pepper. Makes 6 servings.

In a stockpot over medium-high heat, sauté the turkey and onion until the turkey is cooked through. Add the carrots and celery and sauté for 10 minutes, or until softened. Add the broth, tomatoes, basil, and oregano and stir to combine. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the pasta, frozen spinach, and chickpeas or beans and cook for 10 minutes, or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with Parmesan cheese. Makes 14 servings.

In a large saucepan over high heat, bring the broccoli and broth to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, or until very tender. Cool slightly. Transfer to a blender or food processor and purée. Set aside.

In the same saucepan over medium heat, add the oil and onion. Sauté the onion for 3 to 5 minutes, or until softened. Add the flour and cook until fully incorporated, stirring constantly. Gradually add the milk and cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Add the reserved broccoli purée, salt, pepper, paprika, celery seed, and cayenne pepper and stir well to combine. Makes 5 servings.

In a large saucepan over high heat, bring the potatoes, celery, onion, and broth to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly. Transfer to a blender or food processor and purée. Set aside.

In the same saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Add the flour and cook until fully incorporated, stirring constantly. Gradually add the milk and cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Add the reserved potato mixture to the saucepan and stir well to combine. Season with salt and pepper. (This soup thickens when chilled and may need to be thinned with more chicken broth or milk.) Makes 6 servings.

New York Attorney General Office. A.G. Schneiderman Asks Major Retailers To Halt Sales Of Certain Herbal Supplements As DNA Tests Fail To Detect Plant Materials Listed On Majority Of Products Tested. Accessed at www.ag.ny.gov/press-release/ag-schneiderman-asks-major-retailers-halt-sales-certain-herbal-supplements-dna-tests on May 20, 2015.

US Department of Agriculture. National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. Accessed at http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ on May 22, 2015.

US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Tainted Supplements. Accessed at www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/sda/sdNavigation.cfm?filter=&sortColumn=1d&sd=tainted_supplements_cder&page=1&displayAll=true on May 21, 2015.

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